By N. Brown


“In 2021 we have declared war on education the same way we declared on healthcare in the state before Covid-19. We have a comprehensive education agenda....We have been compiling and we are going to launch out aggressively". - Gov Udom Emmanuel, Jan 3, 2021.


It was heart warming to hear Akwa Ibom State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel reaffirm on January 3, 2021, at the Government House Banquet Hall, during a special solemn assembly to usher in the New Year 2021 and rededicate the state to God, that revolution in the education sector will form the crux of the Akwa Ibom State Government’s focus in 2021.

According to the Governor, the revolution, best described as war in the education sector, comes with a physical revamp of infrastructure, retraining of teachers, employment of new ones and security of facilities.

It seems the ex banker turned politician is on the offensive as he launches an all out onslaught against all the ills militating against the attainment of an educational system that is geared to dealing with 21st century challenges in a dynamic and rapidly changing world.

Under the Governor's new educational policy, his dream is to create an educational system where the products can graduate and become employers of labour themselves. That way, the private sector will become the falcrum of the economy.

It is always argued that rational people will always adopt what they consider the most effective means towards the end they seek and Governor Emmanuel understands that if Akwa Ibom State is to take full advantage of the economic benefits of the soon to take off multi billion dollars investments such as the Ibom Deep Sea Port and the Liberty Free Trade Zone, our educational system must be overhauled, redesigned and repositioned to produce the much needed technical and skilled manpower the sector may need.

The Governor is convinced that we must tackle the rot in our educational system. To him, the Akwa Ibom of our dream cannot be fulfilled to take advantage of the emerging economic dividends in the offing without being backed with an educational system that produces the majority of critical stakeholders and manpower to run Akwa Ibom's future multi billion dollars investments and enterprises.

As he has said often, the recession and Covid19 pandemic will go or may recede but the devastating economic pains that it came with will take time to subside. This he has repeatedly said is why Africa must come together to fashion out home grown solutions to our problems as what works for the developed world may not produce same results here even if we domesticate same.

Under the Education Revolution, massive investments are targeted at basic Education at the primary level which is the most crucial being the formative stage. Gov. Emmanuel believes if we must mould the Akwa Ibom child to be better prepared for the future we all seek, teachers must be better trained to impact up-to-date skills and knowledge because in grooming the child, we cannot avoid our past and what fires a child's memories are incidents of childhood, during a child's formative years when energies abound and ripped with raw activities, when minds were malleable, idealism gaped with errors, when a child has imagination without judgement and strength unseasoned with guile.

This explains the government's huge allocation and spendings on schools renovation and reconstruction, teachers training and retraining to build capacity towards improving service delivery thus creating a condusive learning environment that can help groom the Akwa Ibom child did the envisaged future we seek.

The Governor has not only declared emergency in the education sector because his action is aimed at addressing the serious unseriousness that hitherto pervaded the sector by some stakeholders but because he realises that a deficient educational system is as dangerous as a society without an educational system at all. Allowing the trend of the past to go unchecked would have amounted to surrendering to institutional decay.

An effective, efficient and forward looking educational system will lead to the emergence of a group of core skilled workforce that can fit in thus creating a high level of employment which will lead to stability and make the standard of living more condusive to democratic aspirations because if we allow the sector to continue as it were, the state's developmental plan will be distorted and incapable of maintaining a balance.

Gov Udom Emmanuel's philosophy is that if we must reform our economy, we must first reform our educational system because while Direct Foreign Investment is good, it will not lead to the prosperity we seek if we do not produce majority of the experts to dominate critical sectors of the state's economy. The Governor's vision is to have an educational system that will give our productive sector drive, purpose and vitality so that it will put the vast majority of unemployed youths to work. By so doing, the government safeguards internal security because a prosperous society is no longer a danger unto itself because a productive workforce and a strong middle class are the best guarantors of democracy.

The revolution adopted in Akwa Ibom's educational sector is aimed at changing the narrative and reversing the case where the so-called local content policy is more mantra than practice. It is aimed at creating a system and a future where wealth is not for consumption alone but to empower the society for more wealth, afterall, the best revolutions are reforms that in the long run becomes revolutions.

As part of the reforms, an education summit was held to fashion out new ways of doing things to achieve new results.

The State Secondary Education Board (SSEB),even made a presentation before the State Executive Council on November 23, 2020, where her Chairman, Dr Ekaette Ebong Okon observed that it is pertinent to note that the state of our schools is indeed a far cry from what it should be in all the areas, hence, the need for an urgent intervention.

She stated for instance that in the course of the Board familiarization tour and inspection visits to Schools, it was discovered that most Schools in the state are in dire need of teachers.

"Presently the general teacher to students’ ratio is 1:97 in subject areas such as English, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography while subjects such as Financial Accounting, Home Economics, History, Fine/Creative Arts, French and Ibibio have a teacher to students’ ratio of 1:484 as a result of non- availability of teachers in these subject areas", she declared.

This submission necessitated the need for urgent teacher's recruitment to fill in the vacancies. The government has commenced the process of recruiting 1000 teachers into the State Secondary School system as part of her education reform agenda.

Speakingwhile declaring open her first ever education summit in September 2020 which brought stakeholders to seek expert opinions on how to fix the broken school system,Governor Emmanuel himself had urged participants, including government officials, to be bold enough to come forward with the truth about how the state was faring in the education sector.

“We are not just doing one of those political gatherings. We are determined to change the structure, the content, and the output of our educational system in Akwa Ibom State,” the governor said at the summit. Besides participating in the first and the second day of the summit, sat throughout the deliberations and scribbled notes. He said there was a sense of urgency to the task ahead if the state must tackle the changes in the education sector
The governor advocated for entrepreneurial studies in the state-owned Akwa Ibom State University and appealed to corporate organisations and individuals to support the government to fix the education sector in the state.

Prof Nse Essien, the then Commissioner for Education noted that "the scenario of our educational system is characterised by extensive infrastructural decay in our schools, total absence of library facilities, non-commitment of our teachers and trainers, our science labs, technical workshops, and vocational centres have virtually become museums,” the commissioner for education in the state. Basic amenities that create a true learning environment such as dormitories, dining halls, and recreational facilities are luxuries. Our curriculum does not train students for the labour market".

With the recent cabinet reshuffle and a new Commissioner for Education saddled with the responsibility of Implementing the government's new revolutionary reforms, it is hoped that things will surely turn out for good and a new, effective, efficient and result oriented educational system will birth in Akwa Ibom State.


........ We’ve mapped out. We have an education think-tank. We’ve linked up with all the Akwa Ibom eggheads across the world and we meet with them on zoom; wherever you are, once we know you have something to contribute to the development of the state, education-wise, we contact you.

......We will start with physical infrastructures of those schools. We will train the teachers; all the secondary schools in Uyo must be fenced round beginning from this January and we will provide security men in those schools to keep the facilities we buy in those schools. Let us correct this anomaly”.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

PROJECTS TO RECOMMENCE ACROSS A'IBOM
...As Gov Emmanuel orders payment of major contractors

.... interministerial projects to also.commence immediately

Infrastructural projects will recommence across Akwa Ibom State as the State Executive Council has approved the immediate disbursement of funds to major contractors across the State.

This was part of resolutions arrived at during the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, at the Government House, Uyo, yesterday.

The governor also directed that inter-ministerial projects should commence immediately too.

He charged members of the exco to be alive to their responsibilities as government is determined to achieve all her targets this year.

While harping on the need to ensure projects are speedily and qualitatively delivered in every sector, he directed the Honourable Commssion of Works & Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, to ensure that work commences on all the sites immediately and to scale up supervision.

The State Executive Council received the report on APICO and directed that the company should be restructured for greater efficiency.

It also deliberate on the reactivation plan for Akwa Palms Ltd., remodeling plan for Ibom plaza, draft Environmental Beautification Policy and received report of Government/Akwa Ibom State University-Labour Unions meeting, directing that an ad hoc visitation panel be set up to find a lasting solution to all matters impeding the smooth running of the institution.

Furthermore, SEC directed that Honoueable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet should immediately submit a plan for the institution of a state-wide scholarship for tertiary education.
Meanwhile, a moment silence was observed by SEC in honour of the deceased former Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, late Arc. Ime Ekpo.

In attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, Secretary to State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Chief of Staff, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen and others.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

CABINET RESHUFFLE: GOV EMMANUEL SWEARS IN 4 COMMISSIONERS, 5 PERM SECTS

* Lists of Commissioners and their portfolios

Governor Udom Emmanuel has sworn in four new Commissioner designates and five new permanent secretaries into Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and Akwa Ibom State Civil Service respectively.

The Commissioner designates are Uko Udom SAN, Dr. John James Etim, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet and Pastor Umo Eno.

The Permanent Secretaries are Mr. Ini James Ikie, Dr. Ini Jackson Etukudo, Mrs. Esther Aniekan Inyang, Mrs. Grace Paulinus Jim, and Mrs. Abasiekeme Victor Essien

The swearing-in ceremony took place at Banquet hall, Government House, Uyo, on Monday, 4th January, 2021.

The governor while administering the oath of allegiance to the appointees, charged them on creativity, diligence and commitment to service in line with the his administration's Completion Agenda.

"You have a major task and a critical time you joining us on the Completion Agenda and we are not joking about it, if we don't lay a proper economic foundation for our state now once we derail we would gone a lot backwards".

" You can see a whole lot of things we are doing to make sure we set up a proper economic foundation for the state, so it is a call to duty, it is a call to serve our people. God endowed you with that wisdom and gave you connections so we are all here to serve our state and make the light to shine in our state.

The governor advised the commissioners to be committed and diligent in their service emphasizing that they should remain focused irrespective of criticism saying, "you must serve people diligently knowing fully that you are serving God, in every position and anything we are appointed to do, we must serve diligently with all amount of sincerity, forget about criticisms everybody cannot say everything good about you, people will lie against you but that doesn't matter let your conscience bear witness to what you are doing for your people".

The Chief Security Officer of the state, however frowned at the attitude of any commissioner who complains about lack of funds in his ministry, explaining that a creative and innovative Commissioner will always attract resources to execute project in his ministry.

"I always say that when you hear a commissioner say there is no money, know that he lacks creative totally, it had nothing to do with the governor the whole world is run by ideas and creativity it is not enough to get an appointment then you sleep at home, if you keep doing the same thing others are doing you will get the same result, there is need for a paradigm shift", he emphasised.

Similarly, the governor congratulatulated the Permanent Secretaries who made it at the selection process, stating that the choice was based on merit. He however charged them to be selfless in their service knowing that committment and diligence will further uphold the efficacy of Civil Service adding that they will further assist in the realisation of the completion agenda.

" You must also defend that position Permanent Secretary is not a joke that is, the highest level of that career so you must justify that position, gone are the years you sit down and get a letter to be a Permanent Secretary, I must interview you to know that you can key into the vision of the state. We can't make a Permanent Secretary that looks like a 19th century Permanent Secretary, we must pick the best. Permanent Secretaries will work seriously towards the completion agenda", he stated.


Meanwhile, the allocation of ministerial portfolios by Governor Udom Emmanuel, are as follows:

Mr. Akan Okon- Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno- Ministry of Lands & Water Resources, Uko Essien Udom- Ministry of Justice & Attorney General, Sir Monday Ebong Uko-Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mr. Nsikan Linus Nkan- Ministry of Finance and Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh - Ministry of Special Duties, Sir Charles Udoh - Ministry of Environment, Hon. Orman Esin - Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Glory Edet- Ministry of Agriculture, Prince Ukpong Akpabio- Ministry of Trade and Investment, Rt. Hon. Uno Etim Uno- Ministry of Transport and Solid Minerals, Otuekong Raphael Bassey- Ministry of Housing, Pastor ( Hon ) Sunday Ekanem Ibuot - Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Prof. Eno James Ibanga - Ministry of Works and Fire Service and Hon. Frank Archibong - Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs.

Others are Prof. Augustine Vincent Umoh - Ministry of Health, Dr. Ini Adiakpan- Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Idongesit Iboro Etiebet- Ministry of Education, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien Esq- Ministry of Information & Strategy, Dr. Imoh Moffat - Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Enobong Udemeabasi Mbobo - Ministry of Rural Development & Cooperatives, Dr. John James Etim Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development and Elder ( Hon) Amanam Nkanga - Bureau of Political and Social Re-orientation.

Cc:Lalasticlala, mynd44

GOV EMMANUEL SET FOR POST-COVID ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

* To inject N50billion into State economy in Q1, 2021
* Restates State of Emergency on Education sector
* To increase investments in Health, Agriculture, Security, ors

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has announced bold initiatives to jump start the post-COVID economy of Akwa Ibom State this first quarter 2021.
These initiatives include efforts to revamp the State education sector, massive investment in infrastructure, further investments in health sector especially the training of heatlh workers, additional support for agriculture and security.

For these, the governor has promised to inject a whopping N50billion as economic stimulus, beginning from the first quarter of this year.

Governor Emmanuel made the declaration at the Government House Banquet Hall, during the yearly Solemn Assembly organized by the State Government to usher in the New Year 2021 and rededicate the State to God, on Saturday January 2, 2021.

He decried the trend of Nigerians going abroad to acquire education, even in smaller African countries, Governor Emmanuel said his administration’s comprehensive education agenda will soon reverse the trend in Akwa Ibom, as he restated his declaration of state of emergency on education in 2021.

“If you go to these small West African countries you see a lot of Nigerians there some of those universities they go to attend are not as neat as the secondary schools that we have here and you see a whole of Nigerians.

"When did we lose our pride? How can we be going to these smaller countries to school? We must stop it. If not anywhere, in Akwa Ibom and then try to make sure we get things right going forward”.

" In 2021, we've declared war on education the same way we declare on healthcare in the State before Covid-19. We have a comprehensive education agenda. We've education think-tank. We’ve linked up with all the Akwa Ibom eggheads across the world and we meet with them on zoom; wherever you are, once we know you have something to contribute to the development of the state, education-wise. We have been compiling and we are going to launch out aggressively." He said.

He announced that government will start with building physical infrastructure of those schools then training the teachers, adding that all the secondary schools in Uyo must be fenced round beginning from this month.

The Governor however sued for parents’ cooperation in providing their children with such necessities as uniforms and writing materials, while government strives to provide infrastructure, teachers’ training and security and other needs in pursuit of the agenda, saying there was need to return to the system of setting up committees in villages to ensure the security of school properties to complement government efforts.

The State Chief Executive Officer, reechoed the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures against the Corona virus disease, warning that Government cannot afford the socio-economic impact of another lockdown and does not wish to, if the people cooperate by obeying the protocol.

“Covid-19 is real. I am at the forefront of the fight. Let’s do everything possible to protect ourselves. If we painstakingly obey all the Covid-19 protocols, I will not have any reason to lockdown the state. You might be strong in faith but some people are vulnerable, protect those that are vulnerable.
"Please parents, we are continuing with our first term to stop on 23rd January, 2021. I don’t think if we obey Covid-19 protocol I will have need to put those children back home. Those are young vibrant people. If I do that it will be difficult to control them, even Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) let them go back to school”.

Governor Emmanuel promised further investments in the health sector to ensure that each of the three Senatorial Districts in the state has a training centre for nurses and midwives. He commended the agricultural sector for the abundance of rice in the state during the 2020 national lockdown and promised to revisit productivity other subsectors to boost output and ensure that the State has no reason to import food items that it cultivate within by the end of 2021.

In a related development, Governor Udom Emmanuel revealed that N50billion will be injected into the State economy while speaking at a New Year Thanksgiving Service earlier on Friday, 1st January, 2021, at Qua Iboe Church, Ikot Nya, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.

The Governor however gave assurance that the decision will rely on the approval of the State House of Assembly and will primarily focus on funding contractors to complete ongoing projects across the State.

"We are going to stimulate the economy very fast this January and we are going to do that very fast, infact after this first week and the second week, we are going to stimulate the economy of the State. We are going to put in a lot of money to the contractors with that they can stimulate the economy". He said.

The governor assured that , "Mr Speaker had approved for me that within this first quarter I should stimulate the economy of the state with not less than N50 billion. With this, we can encourage a lot of socioeconomic growth".

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

GOV EMMANUEL FELICITATES AIR VICE MARSHAL MFON EKPOH

...Attributes elevation to diligence in service

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has described the recent elevation of Mfon Ekpoh, to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal as a reward for diligence in service to God, the nation and humanity.

Governor Emmanuel was speaking at the  Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 14 Headquarters, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo when he led top government functionaries to join Air Vice Marshal Ekpoh in a thanksgiving to God following his recent promotion.


Governor Emmanuel lauded Ekpoh’s timeliness in convening the thanksgiving service, describing it as a true expression of gratitude and particularly thanked God for choosing to make the elevation happen in a seemingly exigent and thorny year 2020, saying the elevation is a succour to the state.


"It doesn’t matter whether it was delayed or not. When we pray for something God knows when to give it to us and he decided that it should be 2020. We had better and more exciting years, but God chose to make it happen in this year of Corona virus and all kinds of things. It means the year is not completely bad. Promotion comes from God. I believe in your own case God wanted to take the glory” he stated.


Governor Emmanuel recalled that Mfon Ekpoh has always been known for his diligent service to God, a virtue the officer has brought to bear in his military career of watching over Nigeria’s citizens, maintaining  that reward for diligence may be delayed but that diligence has never gone unrewarded. 


 He described the promotion and subsequent thanksgiving as significant both to the state and the celebrator and likened Ekpoh’s promotion to the angel’s visitation to the shepherds that kept watch at night, stressing that God would always deliberately meet people in their place of diligent service and dedication to duty.


"The angel did not go to those who were sleeping, not to those who were at home. The angel went to those who were diligent, watching over the flock by night. So God will always send a message to those who are not slothful, to those who are hard working, who are diligent in their own work, those who are faithful and loyal and I think that is what we are celebrating today”, he emphasized.


Thanking God for the elevation, Air Vice-Marshal Mfon Ekpoh said that the thanksgiving service was predicated on the huge story behind it.


He narrated the ordeal of his ill health having been placed on oxygen for two days, saying that God did not just heal and brought him back to life but blessed him with promotion. 


He declared that only God deserve the glory for his life and recent attainment and prayed for God's blessing on the Governor and his entourage, military officers and all that came to join him in the thanksgiving.


Delivering a sermon on the topic, “the Power of God’s Voice” drawn from John 11:40-44,  the Regional Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 14, Pastor Richard Adeboye, said the voice of God had the power to bring one out of any situation and admonished that men should strive to access the voice of God through the scripture.


Mfon Ekpoh is the seventh Akwa Ibom Indigene to be decorated as a two-star General of the Nigerian Air Force since 1962.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

XMAS MESSAGE: GOV EMMANUEL SUES FOR PEACE, RECONCILATION, UNITY IN A'IBOM

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has called on citizens to seize the overflowing goodwill of the Christmas season to embark on peace building through reconcilation as this will further unite the State.

The Governor anchored his Christmas message on the scripture - Luke 2:10 which reads "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people".

He expressed hope that the celebration of Christmas will not only bring mortal enemies as friends, but "will also cause some of our people who are still in the trenches of tribalism, ethnicism, petty-mindedness, and other vices, to emerge from the foxholes and join us to build a State which would be defined by faith, love and brotherhood".

"Let us be reminded that Christmas is only Christmas when we celebrate it by sharing gifts with our neighbours and shining the light of love to everyone." He said.

He appealed to those who desire to stoke the embers of division and cause unnecessary tensions because of their ambitions to allow the wheels of governance to move gingerly forward.

"We pray that joy; peace and hope will fill the heart and soul of every Akwaibomite as we savour the joyous commemoration of our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ."

Governor Emmanuel called for deep meditation among citizens to reflect on the challenges the State has surmounted including the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, debilitating national recession, #Endsars protest and massive destruction of public and private property among others.

He listed remarkable achievements recorded in 2020 in spite of these challenges including Ibom Air which has become a roaring success, "a source of pride to us all as Akwaibomites. God has answered our prayers for sustainable industrial base. Earlier this year, the Federal government approved for us the Oil and Gas Free zone which is a huge step in our industrialization agenda. A little over a week ago, the Federal Executive Council finally granted us the approval to commence work on the long awaited Ibom Deep Seaport Project." And, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council for granting the State this wonderful gift.


The state chief executive called for collective effort to move the State forward.

"Fellow Akwaibomites, let us press forward by doing all we can to stay alive and beat the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic. As you may already know, we are currently experiencing the second wave of the pandemic, but as we had succeeded in stemming the rate of infection when it first hit our shores, I ask you to join hands with us again to beat this second wave.

"The use of facemasks, social distancing, regular hand washing, hand sanitizers are protocols that have worked in reducing infections."

He therefore warned that by applying these protocols, which are simple but effective rules, "there may be no need for us to impose another lockdown, but if we observe that these rules are flouted, then we may have no other option than to put the State under lock -down".

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has been advised to stop demoralizing the Nigerian Army with his constant condemnation but rather encourage them to boost their morale to tackle the intractable insurgency in the North East.

This admonition was made by the Olowu of Owu Kuta, His Royal Majesty, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude, Tegbosun 111, during a recent chat with journalists in his palace in Osun State.

Governor Zulum, on Monday visited the location along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, the only safe route that leads to Borno State, where Boko Haram insurgents struck and abducted 35 travellers last weekend.

The governor, while inspecting the level of destruction perpetrated by Boko Haram at the scene of the attack, expressed shock and annoyance on how such magnitude of attack was being perpetrated under the watch of the soldiers and police special squads deployed to protect the highway, saying the army has failed to do their assigned jobs.

“…Surprisingly we have a Brigade Commander with his team in Jakana; we also have a commanding officer with his battalion in Auno; both teams cover a distance of only 20 kilometres, and they have failed to protect the commuters. The Nigeria Army has failed us; they have failed in discharging their role of protecting the commuters,” the Governor was quoted.

Reacting to that statement, the notable monarch urged the governor to be less frontally in his attack of the military as they needed all the encouragement and support to battle those insurgents to submission.

“I am disappointed in Governor Zulum for his constant attacks of the Nigeria Army at every opportunity he has over the activities of the vicious Boko Haram insurgents in Borno. He should stop demoralizing the soldiers but rather encourage and boost their morale. I have no doubt in my mind that our military will survive any form of blackmail from any quarter,” Oba Oyelude stated.

The Olowu noted that instead of blaming the military over the spike in the level of insecurity leading to more people being killed in the State, the governor should encourage a symbiotic effort to tackle the menace.

Zulum, since he assumed office last year, has been very vocal in his criticism of security agencies anytime he feels they are not performing.

The Borno governor, who sometimes ignores security advice to visit troubled parts of Borno State, once accused soldiers of deliberately attacking his convoy to prevent him from reaching a troubled fishing community in the state.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

Ibom Deep Sea Port: Gov. Emmanuel's final Industrialisation trade secret

By John Brown

The move to finally take Akwa Ibom State away from being a core civil service state to an industrial super hub within the Gulf of Guinea last week got the nod of the federal government with the approval for the take off of the Ibom Deep Sea Port, a news that threw residents of the state into an estacy of delight.

The Ibom Deep Sea Port, a Public Private Partnership Initiative under a 60% private and 40% public sector arrangement will no doubt change not just the face of the state's industrialization philosophy but also has the possibility of having a multiplier effect whose impact will surely boomerang to almost all sectors of the state's economy.

According to Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport,
the total cost of construction of the Ibom Deep Seaport is $4.6 billion but the first phase of it is $2.016 billion which has been approved by the Federal Government.

Some vital technical details of the design parameters of the port reveals that the port will be constructed in phases and the first phase of it will have 10 Terminals which would contain; Marine Services Centre, Naval Facility for Security, Custom Yard outside the Port Terminal with a 20km approach channel; 450m width to provide for 2-lane traffic, 2 breakwaters (1,350m and 600m) total quay length of about 7.5km( fully developed), berth depth of 16m+", Channel depth (18m+), turning basin 600m design for container vessel of 120,000 DWT;LOA 366m ; Draft 16m+ ; Beam 49m".

Apart from guaranteed employment generation, the Ibom Deep Sea Port is one project that will give the state's Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, a big boost. Apart from it's envisaged natural advantage of being the deepest Sea Port in the West African Sub Region, the project will not only expand Nigeria's maritime business but will serve as a major investment hub with regards import and export, a reality that is already a big relief to Nigeria's International businessmen and their foreign partners.

The Ibom Deep Sea Port will no doubt ensure that both maritime Professionals as well as Auxiliary artisans benefit immensely. The project will no doubt open windows of opportunities to people such as terminal operators, longshoremen, freight forwarders, steamship agents, ship pilots, tug and towboat operators, chandlers, warehousemen, as well as jobs in the dredging, marine construction, ship repair, trucking and railroad industries.

These direct port-sector jobs will also support another thousands of induced jobs due to purchases of food, housing, transportation, apparel, medical and entertainment services.

Besides, numerous port-sector firms will provide direct services to the cargo and vessel activity to support their direct activity and supporting another indirect jobs such as suppliers of parts and equipment; firms providing maintenance and repair services to the businesses dependent on port operations; utilities providing services to marine terminals; and office supply firms.

One thing obvious with the project is that Ibom Deep Seaport will create jobs that tend to pay above-average wages, which is important to ensuring Akwa Ibom remain a strong economic force in a post Covid19 Nigerian economy which is aimed at being repositioned to be less dependent on oil revenue alone.

It could be recalled that in May 2015, the IDSP PPP procurement was approved by the Federal Executive Council. In January 2018, a request for quotation was issued, to which 8 applications were received. Three applicants were shortlisted as bidders to proceed to the Request for Proposal stage, which started in April and ended in September 2018 with official opening of the competing bids. A rigorous evaluation of the bids, which was conducted in line with international best practices was what culminated in the selection of Bollore–PowerChina Consortium as the Preferred Bidder and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. as the Reserved Bidder.

A consortium comprising Bollore Africa Logistics and PowerChina International Group has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Ibom Deep Seaport Project (IDSP), with the franchise of operating the port for 50 years while China Harbour Engineering emerging as reserve bidder for the project.

Bollore Africa Logistics is the leading port operator in Africa and a part of French-based Bollore Transport and Logistics, which ranks among the world’s top-20 port operators. PowerChina International Group Ltd is the core business of Power Construction Corporation of China which is the world’s top hydropower, electric power, and infrastructure construction group. The port is designed to handle vessels up to neo-panamax size with 7.5 km of quay on completion.

IDSP is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) port infrastructure project sponsored by the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Port Authority, and the Akwa Ibom State Government, with the international advising from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Singapore-based port engineering consultancy company Global Maritime and Port Services Pte Ltd.

The project includes 2,565 hectares of greenfield port area, integrated within the Ibom Industrial City, a free trade zone with fiscal incentives. Ibom Deep Sea Port is designed to provide channel depth of 18.24m, turning basin and berth depth of 16.72m and quay length of about 7.5 km upon completion. It will have a capacity of 9 mln TEU and will cater for large container vessels of 13,000 TEU.

The Ibom Deep Seaport, IDSP, which is a major component of the Ibom Industrial City, no doubt will not only transform the coastal cities that the project will cut across but will provide thousands of jobs in the catchment communities both during the execution of the project and at the commencement of operations.

The project which is jointly owned by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Akwa Ibom State government and private investors, through a Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement, was conceived to be an economic empowerment plan, designed to play a catalytic role in economic development of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria in general.

Though the idea of the Ibom Deep Seaport IDSP project was conceived by the Attah administration, the present administration has no doubt taken it up not just from the drawing board and pipeline it has been for years to its final implementation phase so as to translate this global maritime vision into job creation, wealth generation and economic diversification endeavor.

Determined to ensure the project becomes a reality, the state government had earlier contracted the Global Maritime and Ports Services, GMAPS, to provide transaction advising services in December 2015. GMAPS also had the responsibility of completing the master-plan to produce a full business case for the IDSP project which saw the Ibom Deep Sea Port getting the Federal Government's approval under the Public-Private Partnership, PPP, model in May 2015.

The multi-billion dollar project which will be constructed in phases will see the first phase witnessing the construction of two breakwaters 1,350m-long and 600m-long respectively while the second phase will witness the extension of IDSP with an additional 495ha of land to accommodate a channel of 18.24m, turning basin berth depth of 16.72m, and a quay length of 7.5km, to enable it harbour new Panamax-class vessels.

The project which has capacity to increase the revenue base of not just the state but federal government too occupies about 2,565 hectares of land with an additional 1.565 hectares for future expansion. It's benefits, a projected investment capacity of $4.2 billion will on completion serve the Joint Development of Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Chad as the Ibom Deep Sea Port project offers a multiple model connectivity with unparalleled access to coastal railway lines, the Victor Attah International Airport and extensive national road network.

With the vision to make it a trans-shipment port for the West and Central African region, expected to handle such business activities as container break-bulk, dry-bulk and liquid cargo, the project is a gargantuan leap in trans-national trade activities that would handle large vessels capable of loading over 13,000 containers in one voyage. Indeed, with Ibom Deep Seaport, Akwa Ibom can never remain the same again economically and commercial point of view.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

Gov Emmanuel Commissions Tissue Paper Production Factory

... Assures Motor Assembly plant ready 2021, set to send 20 Engineers for foreign training in Israel

20 indigenes of Akwa Ibom State will be sponsored for training in engineering studies at Israel to man the Vehicle Assembly Plant which will be commissioned in 2021, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has declared.

The Governor stated this while speaking at the commissioning of Dried Bamboo to Tissue Paper Production Factory, on Saturday at Dakkada Cottage Industries Ekid Itam in Itu Local Government Area of the State.

He noted with delight that 33 indigenes of the state have been trained to operate the tissue factory, while 22 that will be trained on the Motor Assembly Plant will contribute towards the locally made vehicles in the country.

Hear him, “We try to make sure that we train a lot of our youths, a lot of our indigenes to be able to take care of this particularly tissue factory. We have trained about 33 indigenes of the state who adapted easily to the technology immediately and it will make this factory easily maintained by our own indigenes".

"I want to reassure the people of Itu that we need to send 20 people to Israel immediately for training, minimum of 10% persons will be from Itu for the company being sited in Itu Local Government Area. The Israeli Ambassador is working seriously to give us visas for them to go for the training so that when they come back those 20 engineers will be the ones to run the Vehicle Assembly Plant that is along the express way, I am sure we should be able to commission that next year".

Continuing, he said, "The Motor Assembly Plant if you go there, work is ongoing we got some delay because of COVID our target is that as the federal government will be launching out the new scheme of locally assemble vehicles, Akwa Ibom state should be able to supply a whole into the Nigerian market especially for those luxury buses”.

The Governor explained that the factories with the limited employment needs of the people will create direct and indirect economic impact that will drive the economy, appealing to Akwa Ibom people to be involved in the supply of the raw materials which is mainly Bamboo used in the production of tissue where they will make a lot of profit.

He assured that his administration is working tirelessly to resuscitate moribund factories in the state.

In his words, “but I can assure you that like the Quality Ceramics we are working seriously to see how we can bring it back to life, we are at the last stage now, once we fire and it response by the second quarter of next year we should be able to reactivate that factory we are working seriously to reactivate that factory but we are working seriously to see how that could come back to life”.

Governor Emmanuel however commended the host community, of the Tissue Factory at Ekid Itam for their cooperation and solicited for a sustained community relations of peace so as to make the factory succeed. “Let me appreciate the host community for their cooperation so far, I just want to believe they will continue to cooperate with us as we do a lot more”, he implored.

In his remarks the Commissioner, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, thanked God for keeping the state through the recession with the state achieving its projects.
Prince Akpabio, lauded the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel for initiating the tissue paper production factory which he affirmed remains very significant to the people of Itu, stating that with the capacity to produce 5 tons of tissue daily from Bamboo and about 2000 tons annually, the prospect the factory holds will stimulate the economy in the area.

In a goodwill message, the member representing Itu State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Kufre Edidem, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for siting the factory in Itu noting that it will provide more than 25 direct jobs and more than 2000 indirect jobs, adding that it will take the youths off the streets and provide them with a means of livelihood.

Similarly, the paramount ruler of Itu His Royal Majesty, Edidem Dr. Edet Akpainyang, expressed in-depth joy to the governor for making history through the siting of the tissue paper factory, describing it as compensation to the people of Itu who earlier lost Oku Iboku which hitherto engaged the people in the area. He prayed God for diligence to the governor to succeed in his vision for the state.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44

Akwa Ibom @ 33 Celebrating Fulfillment of the Promise: HEALTHCARE, Samuel Brown

Akwa Ibom State has evolved into the preferred destination for business and health tourism in Nigeria. However, there are a few who still wonder if what they read about the development strides in the State really exist.

Well, they need to visit the State to see for themselves as the saying goes, 'seeing is believeing'. Without sounding immodest, I believe that these assertions were recently put to test against the dreaded Coronavirus which continues to ravage the world, bringing very powerful nations, and Akwa Ibom State excelled.

A glance through the Covid-19 update by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, shows that in Akwa Ibom State transmission and fatality rates are consistently low compared to other states while the recovery rate is almost 100%.

If that does not give credence to the state of the State's health sector, then how about the declaration by the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, ranking health facilities in the Akwa Ibom as the best in the country?



Ihekweazu, who visited the State alongside officials of World Health Organization, WHO, on a working tour of medical facilities and assessment of the State government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said "this has been such an eye-opening experience both at Ibom Specialist Hospital and this Emergency Operating Center. We are jointly and pleasantly surprised at the opportunity this has presented to the country. This will probably be the best EOC in the whole country.”



He added that the facilities available and quality of personnel gave a good impression about the health care services enjoyed by the people of the State. Does this declaration by a team of heatlh experts not confirm that Akwa Ibom State has recorded remarkable milestones after thrirty three years of creation worth celebrating?



Frankly, the promise of providing accessible, affordable and qualitative healthcare has been fulfilled. This is one other reason forward looking Akwa Ibom people thank God for the emergence of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. He took over from where previous administrations stopped and in five years has totally revamped the State's health sector.



Unarguably, Governor Emmanuel's proactive intervention in the State's health sector prepared the State to meet any health emergency including Lassa fever and Covid-19.



When he embarked on rehabilitation of secondary health facilities across the state many were baffled. Some questioned his rationale in investing so much energy in the sector, but with a simple message: Health is Wealth, Governor Emmanuel, set about transforming long abandoned and dilapidated hospitals into functional health care center equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, manned by motivated personnel.



Soon, medical equipment imported by the administration, which arrived in two batches of 50 containers each loaded with items including electrocardiograph 3 Channels, colonoscopy (with halogen light), x-ray film processor, x-ray film viewer, gastroscope, operating theatre light (5-Spot light), operating table, anastasia trolley with ventilator and monitor, syringe pump, electro surgical units, monopolar-bipolar operating instruments, suction pump and host of other state-of-the art equipment including CT Scanners, Surgical microscope for eyes.



The iconic missionary hospital - St. Luke Hospital, Anua - Uyo, had the honour of being the first secondary health facility to be reconstructed and equipped. The hospital also received a 300-bed gynecology ward in honour of the reputable Irish Missionary, Dr. Ann Ward. From there, Governor Emmanuel extended his Midas touch to public hospitals namely Etinan General Hospital, Ikot Okoro General Hospital, General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, General Hospital, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Emmanuel General Hospital, Eket and General Hospital, Iquita Oron, where he made sure they are rehabilitated and upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment. In the same vein, Governor Emmanuel has built and equipped Comprehensive Health Centre, Awa - Onna.



This development has helped to decentralize the State healthcare system and improve access to quality health care especially for rural dwellers. Aslo, it has substantially reduced the pressure on the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH whose primary objective was for referral and research. With more than nine secondary healthcare facilities fully equipped and functioning, the sick and those seeking medical attention can easily access them close by without traveling long distances to Uyo, the state capital.



Akwa Ibom state owned hospitals are today not what they were three decades ago. Aside the greatly upgraded infrastructure and equipment, the case management principles have been modernized to meet the 21st century needs. Under Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration hospitals have been digitized and networked to aid effective healthcare delivery and ease tracing of medical records of patients. This is to reduce the workload and compensate for any shortage in manpower such that a patient who is registered in one hospital has his details on the state healthcare databank which is automatically available upon requests from other segments of the state health system.



Governor Emmanuel complements his rehabilitation of health facilities with recruitment and training of health workers with incentives. There have been series of specialised training and certification of 100 healthworkers in Basic Lives Support and Advanced Cardiac Lives Support with Medical Energy Experts from the USA; Training of 20 Biomedical Engineers and agreed to regularly pay the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and CONHESS to medical and dental practitioners and nurses respectively.



As a result, there has been a noticeable decrease in child mortality and morbidity in pregnant mother's, affordable health care and a healthy population. Most importantly, he has made the state a reference point in healthcare delivery and improved life expectancy of Akwa Ibom people as such many citizens of neighbouring states visited the state on medical tourism.



While appreciating the feat recorded by Governor Emmanuel, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who commissioned the rehabilitated Etinan General Hospital on September, 23, 2017, said “this is an extremely useful project, this is the type of project, I believe touches the lives of the people directly”.

Having repositioned secondary healthcare delivery to function optimally, Governor Emmanuel took a decisive step to reclaim and salvage the State owned quandary health facility - Ibom Specialist Hospital, and transformed it into a multi specialty health care facility with experts in various specialised health care fields working there. With these achievements, the State is several steps closer to attaining self sufficiency I'm health care as envisioned by the founding fathers.

So, as we celebrate the State 33rd anniversary, let's pause to consider howfar Akwa Ibom has come - from a pedestrian State to a preferred business hub. Today, through the industrialisation drive of Governor Emmanuel, the State is at the forefront of global fight against diseases by exporting basic medical consumables especially disposable syringes. Africa's leading syringe manufacturer, the Jubilee Syringe is located in the State. It offers wide employment opportunities to youths, provides a veritable source of revenue and boosts healthcare services in the State.

cc:mynd44

More than 72-hours after a foremost whistle-blower and anti-corruption crusader, Dr. George Uboh, chairman of George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN), issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to answer allegations of monumental fraud levelled against him, it has been pin-drop silence from the governor and his otherwise voluble aides. 
 
Those who know Obaseki and how he operates know that if there was no scintilla of truism to the allegation, his camp would have responded with gusto. 
 
Interestingly, when the same organisation alleged that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had interfered with a criminal investigation on August 10 and gave him seven days to respond, the VP responded the same day, attaching evidence to prove his innocence and asking the GUWN to let Nigerians know the outcome of their investigations. 
 
“After analysing the VP’s response, we exonerated him and issued a statement and video in that regard. If the VP, the Number Two citizen in Nigeria, who is cloaked with immunity can humble himself to respond to us same day we wrote him, we, hereby, issue His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to our allegations. 
 
“It should be noted that although we found suspicious transactions in multiple years, however, the suspicious transactions became rampant and egregious in 2019, hence, our conclusion that His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki allegedly siphoned funds in preparation for the election,” Uboh stated during a press conference at the GUWN office in Abuja, Monday, September 14. 
 
Sickening as the allegations are, the poser is why has Obaseki failed to address them? What is he afraid of? Or, does he consider himself bigger than the people of Edo State on whose mandate he became governor and is seeking a second term in office? 
 
According to Uboh, “The George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN) is in receipt of bank statements from 2015 to 2019 on the Edo State Government. We are not unmindful of the fact that there is (an) election around the corner in a few days in Edo State. 
 
“As a Civil Society Organization, we are non-partisan. However, for the sake of public interest, we analyse any information sent to us from whistleblowers, some anonymous as in the present case. After analysing the information, we disseminate to the public whose interest we serve.”
 
Some of the allegations against Obaseki, according to the GUWN, include, “Numerous transfers made into 8-digit account numbers running into Billions of Naira; transfers in Billions of Naira from the Edo State Government to General-Purpose accounts in different banks, including but not limited to Equatorial Trust Bank (which is not in operation), Access Bank, Sterling Bank etc. Posers: what does general-purpose stand for? Are these funds dissipating from these general-purpose accounts in these banks? The red flag is clear and convincing.”
 
Further, he said, “We found Billions of Naira in transfers to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without being specific on the particular MDAs. Transfers should not be in bulk figures in Billions of Naira without specifying the MDAs and their respective account numbers.
 
“We found that Billions of Naira passed through Edo State Government to companies like A&K Construction without specifying the accounts of the companies. In other words, Edo State Government released money to itself, mentioned companies like A&K Construction without mentioning the recipients’ accounts. Without those details, we can conclude that the monies have no destinations.”
 
Uboh continued, “We found that Billions of Naira were transferred in numerous tranches without account numbers and account names of the purported recipients. We found Billions of Naira debited as Value Added Tax (VAT). This contravenes common sense. VAT should be a credit, not debit. Why would you move Billions out and give the narration as VAT? 
 
“VAT collections are credits, not debits. Billions of Naira released as salary from EDSG without specificity. In August 2019 alone, N746,622,765:33 and N693,388,159:31 were moved under the narration salary from EDSG. This is very suspicious, particularly the proximity of the transactions and others above to the election.”
 
This allegation has, predictably, created a miasma of confusion in the state, because Saturday, September 19, is just around the corner. It is the day the people of Edo State will go to the polls to decide, who would get their mandate between the two leading candidates: Governor Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 
 
As with such elections, opinions are still divided about who to pitch their tent with. Well, Obaseki has been governor since 2016 and is seeking re-election promising to Make Edo Great Again – the blueprint of his proposed second term, apparently copied from America’s President, Donald Trump. 
 
Pastor Ize-Iyamu, on the other hand, has presented an elaborate ‘SIMPLE Agenda’ promising to correct the ills of the past and take Edo State to greater heights. Both leading candidates have been crisscrossing the length and breadth of the state selling their suitability and readiness to serve with all their might to the people. 
 
However, if the people were wary of Obaseki’s candidature all the while considering his lacklustre performance in the last three and a half years, there is now a credible reason to vote him out based on his condescending refusal to answer questions regarding his (mis)handling of the state’s finances and how he perfected the heist using executive powers to muscle the legislature.
 
It would be recalled that for many weeks after the House of Assembly should have been inaugurated in 2019, Obaseki refused to initially order a proclamation, in line with constitutional provisions, to clear the way for the inauguration and constitution of the seventh assembly. 
 
This reluctance was reportedly predicated on the governor’s belief that he did not have as many loyalists in the House in comparison with his predecessor and former national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Obaseki’s refusal caused further depletion in the number loyal to him and he vowed that the doors of the assembly would remain shut for as long as he desired. 
 
Well-meaning indigenes and Nigerians all over the world and legal experts warned him that what he was doing was not only unconstitutional, it would have dire political consequences. But he was not swayed; Obaseki had made up his mind to deny the good people of Edo State legislative representation while perpetrating what has now been uncovered as a mindless plundering of the commonwealth of the state. When he eventually inaugurated the house, he exempted a majority of the duly elected lawmakers and enabled illegality to run riot. 
 
Friday Itulah, a lawyer and former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, said, “We are practising democracy, no doubt, and in our democratic practice, the three arms of government – legislature, executive and judiciary – and unless, and until these three are in place, we cannot claim to be practising democracy. 
 
“And so, if a House of Assembly has come to an end by the effusion of time, ideally, it is the responsibility of the governor to send a proclamation to the clerk for the convening of the first sitting of the assembly during which officials are elected.” 
 
Itulah said failure to do this meant the affairs of the state could not be conducted and the governor could not operate without a House of Assembly. “And you should know that without the House of Assembly, laws cannot be passed, and bills for appropriation cannot be passed and assented to.”
 
All of that had no bearing with Obaseki. In retrospect, it does seem that his irrational refusal to convene the Assembly was because he knew that the legislators had wised up to his wanton financial malfeasances and decided to deal with them. 
 
With the imposition of his lackeys on the Assembly, while forcefully securing the loyalty of others using financial enslavement and coercion, Obaseki went on a plundering binge that has now boomeranged. His only saving grace now – if not too late – would be to address the allegations.
 
*Bakara, political scientist, lives in Abuja, the nation’s capital

cc: mynd44

In politics, reputation is everything. Political reputation is less what political figures say or do; it is more about what the people see when they see a politician. Conversely, a politician’s character is an incredibly important feature of reputation formation or destruction – as the case may be – in political circumstances. So, it is important to remember that actions will always be louder than words. 
 
Judging by the reputation of Phillip Shaibu, the incumbent deputy governor of Edo State, it is safe to say that his reputation has done more damage to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Edo State than the famed incompetence and failure of Governor Godwin Obaseki, the candidate proper. 
 
The question that begs for an answer is: what does Shaibu’s reputation say of him? He comes across as patently unfitting for the office he occupies and which he seeks so desperately to retain, because of his vapidity, irascibility and inability to articulate the achievements of an administration he has been a part of from the outset. 
 
If gravitas and intellection were the lowest common denominator, Shaibu, despite his relative youthfulness – he turned 50 last December – does not appear minimally competent for the office of Deputy Governor. 
 
A deputy governor with questionable intellect and glaring incompetence is a bad combination but the fact that Shaibu never runs anything but his mouth has further worsened the chances of Obaseki, who also appears to have since lost his governance marbles but laughably still seeks re-election. 
 
More so, is his propensity to always resort to violence and violent threats whenever it jostles him that his days in office are numbered, which many have laid squarely at the foot of his background as a student unionist where thuggery and violence undergirded their conduct. 
 
In political reputation, seemingly small things are amplified and they become big. This is why caution is critical and desirable in handling Shaibu, because, for every act of violence that has trailed the state since 2018, his name is copiously mentioned. 
 
Sometime in 2019, mayhem was unleashed on high profile guests like the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, when they attended the convocation ceremony of the Edo University, Iyamho. 
 
At the time, the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had fallen out with his successor and political godson, Governor Obaseki. Shaibu, as deputy governor, saw the ceremony as a perfect opportunity to show Oshiomhole that power had changed hands. 
 
He reportedly mobilised over 200 ‘Okada’ riders to the venue and the guests were left scampering to safety under a cloud of violent attacks. Those who were not so lucky escaped with bodily injuries and damaged cars.
 
A few days to the event, Oshiomhole said, “I had information that the deputy governor asked some people to organise 1,000 people to the university community. You can crosscheck with the Inspector General of Police. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who delivered the convocation lecture, was also a witness. I conveyed the message to the IGP to prevent thugs from being imported to the place by the deputy governor.
 
“Some few minutes later the governor himself arrived and Mr. Emefiele went to him and said to him, ‘what are these people doing here?’ Emefiele said to the governor that if those people were there, he wasn’t going to deliver the convocation lecture, because he didn’t come to do politics, he just came to perform a normal intellectual activity, which was the convocation lecture.”
 
The truth of what truly transpired has not been established and may never be given the dynamics of Nigerian politics, which is why Shaibu’s involvement or otherwise is still up in the air but his name came up again recently, when the acting chairman of the APC in Edo State, Col David Imuse (retd) said there was credible information that Obaseki had a sinister plan involving Shaibu. 
 
Imuse said, “In a shocking revelation, it has been shown that the Edo State government, in connivance with a retired police officer from Kogi State, who has been identified in series of violence plots in Edo State and beyond, is plotting to stage an attack on their own convoy. 
 
“Specifically, an attack on the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu in a bid to draw sympathy; pose as victims and set the stage for a new wave of the violent onslaught on the people of Edo State some of whom have fallen victims to the reckless shootings of the governor’s army of thugs and criminals.”
 
Shaibu debunked the allegation but the question is: why always him? The story is told of how he practically arm-twisted the leadership of the PDP, when he followed Obaseki to defect from the APC last June. 
 
In a party where there was no such overhanging threat of intimidation, Obaseki, as the sitting governor, would have had to choose a new deputy from among the fold of the PDP, which he just joined to placate extant members and give them a sense of belonging. 
 
Not with Shaibu. He huffed and puffed, and threatened and coerced the PDP into retaining him as Obaseki’s running mate. It was a hard pill to swallow but it was the least the party leaders could do else they stood to regret not supporting him. 
 
In a recent viral video clip, Shaibu was seen talking to a group of young men ostensibly loyal to the PDP wherein he was overheard boasting that he was not a coward and, “I have called the CP (Commissioner of Police) that they should arrest those boys. Failure to arrest them, I cannot guarantee peace.” 
 
In fact, the role of Shaibu in most of the violent activities in the state was well summed up by the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, when during a reconciliation meeting of the gladiators, called out Shaibu as the brain behind many of the crises in the state. More cogently, the monarch said he was reluctant to call him his son, because of his recent disposition to violence ahead of the election. What could have been more pungent?
 
Interestingly, his wife, Maryam, is cut from the same cloth. If Shaibu had been masking his violent streak with some maturity, she openly revels in it. There is also a viral video of Maryam at a ‘town hall meeting’ where she was heard threatening a cross-section of women that if they attended any other event aside the one organised by her, she would flog them. Some of the women in the audience were much older. 
 
Two interventions are indeed critical and auspicious at this point; that of the National Peace Committee helmed by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd); and the imposition of visa restrictions on individuals found instigating violence in the Edo and Ondo elections slated for September and October respectively by the United States government.
 
Abdulsalami, as chairman of the committee, said they were intervening in the Edo State governorship election, because of the tension it is generating, stressing that if there is no peace, there could not be any election. 
 
At a meeting with Governor Obaseki, Abdulsalami said, “As you know, the purpose of this committee is to ensure that all those involved in this election get hold of their supporters and party people to ensure that there is peace in the state.” The committee oversaw the signing of a peace pact by the major candidates in the election.
 
Likewise, the U.S Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Monday, disclosed: “In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians, who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. 
 
“Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run-up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections,” the statement read. 

It is fervently hoped that these would serve as a deterrent to those with a lifelong reputation of violence. 

*Osunbor lives and works in Benin

cc: mynd44

Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, last Monday joined dignitaries to celebrate the commencement of Ibom Air commercial flights operations at the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.

The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Hon. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ezeilo, applauded Ibom Air for finding Enugu conducive as its takeoff point into the South East market.

Akwa Ibom State-owned Ibom Air, on Monday commenced daily flight operations from the newly-upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Enugu state.

Also at the inauguration event were other members of the State Executive council,a including Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, his information counterpart, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, the Enugu Airport Manager, Mrs. Cecilia Oguama, and the Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, George E. Uriesi.

Ibom Air will now fly into Enugu daily from Lagos and Abuja.

Ibom Air established by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State started with few routes in Nigeria, including Uyo to Abuja, Uyo to Lagos, Abuja to Uyo, Lagos to Uyo and increased it to include Lagos to Abuja and Abuja to Lagos.

Recently, the airline commenced operations at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar.

Governor Emmanuel had two weeks ago, during the launch of the fifth aircraft in the fleet of the airline emphasized on his determination to make Akwa Ibom the hub of aviation development in the country.

cc: mynd44

Speedy development of Akwa Ibom communities is a key developmental goal of Governor Udom Emmanuel's Completion Agenda which he is determined to achieve.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Economic Development Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Akan Okon, while welcoming the Minister of Finance, Budget and Financial Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, during the opening ceremony of the Federal Project Support Unit's "Stakeholders On Community Driven Development" workshop hosted by the Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development, at Watbridge Hotel, Uyo, recently.


The minister as well as community development and finance experts from across Nigeria met in Uyo to brainstorm and produce guidelines for sustainable community developmental practices.

Okon pointed out that apart from providing basic infrastructure to improve the living standard of community dwellers, Governor Emmanuel has consistently and promptly paid counterpart funds and given a hundred percent attention to donor agency activities and shown remarkable commitment to resolving challenges facing communities.

"These are evidents of Governor Udom Emmanuel's determination to develop Akwa Ibom Communities". He said.

The commissioner therefore reassured the minister and her team of continuous co-operation of the Akwa Ibom state government to community development projects.

In her remarks, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Financial Planning, who was represented by her Special Adviser, Mrs Elizabeth Ebosele, commended the governor on his laudable achievements in Akwa Ibom state and for supporting the federal government in its efforts to develop communities.
She charged South-south and South-east stakeholders of community Driven Development (CDD) to bring their vast knowledge in community development to bear while designing policies that will be in the best interest of future generations, their immediate communities, the region and Nigeria as a whole.

Ebosele informed participants that both the Presidency and Federal Executive Council await the outcome of their deliberations to be used as a template to execute developmental projects for Nigerian communities.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development (CSDP), Mr. Ishmeal Akpan, welcomed the minister and all coordinators of the project to the state.

He thanked them for choosing his state to host such a prestigious workshop and for trusting the grassroots dwellers' capability to select projects tailored to their specific needs and self executing with funds made available by the project.

Akpan assured participants of a blissful stay in the peaceful city Uyo while inviting them to consider more business and leisure visits as well as invest in the state.

The National Coordinator, FPSU, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, in his remarks, commended the Akwa Ibom State government for practicing the best Covid-19 safety protocol in the country, citing the de-contamination chambers at the Victor Attah International Airport and other safety protocol on-board Ibom Air - the state owned airline, saying this has evidently resulted in the state's victory over the deadly virus.

He adviced participants of the two-day workshop to suggest universal policies that would alliviate socio-economic developmental deficiencies in every part of Nigeria and not ones peculiar to their state or Geo-political zone.


Other dignitaries at the workshop included the National Co-ordinator, Federal Project Support Unit (FPSU) Mr Abdulkarim Obaje and his team, Board Members and General Managers of Community Development Agencies, ace community development experts, finance experts from the federal ministry of finance and other financial institutions and others.

cc: mynd44

Chairman of Ocean Marine Solution (OMS), Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo (Capt, Hosa), has served notice on the Edo State Government of his intention to proceed against it in court for libelous and defamatory publications against him by the State Government.

In a letter by his Counsel, Dr Oladapo Olanipekun (SAN), dated July 20, 2020 and referenced EM/OAG/02/2020, addressed to the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, Capt. Hosa demanded a retraction of the said publications.

He also demanded that the State Government and/or its representatives should cease and desist from making any further libelous and defamatory publications against him.

Not done, the billionaire businessman demanded the sum of N2 billion for the “embarrassment, inconvenience, losses and damages done to his person, character and interests” as a result of the “mischievous, malicious and misleading publications.”

In the four-page letter, Olanipekun said that “On Monday, 20 July, 2020, publications captioned “Okunbo, Oshiomhole making plans to disrupt Edo governorship elections”, appeared on pages 26 of The Punch and 53 of THISDAY.

“The said publications bear the insignia/mark of the Edo State Government and was signed by Crusoe Osagie, designated as Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy (to the Governor), Edo State Government.

“The thrust of the captions and publications referred to above is expressed and reflected in some of the abstracts/excerpts below:

“…a Benin billionaire, Captain Hosa Okunbo, held a meeting on July 19, 2020, where they perfected plans to recruit thugs to disrupt the forthcoming September 19 governorship election in the State, having discovered that they cannot win the election in a fair contest.

“…they met with these thugs, gave them targets and paid them in advance to cause trouble and undermine the will of the people during the election.

“…Okunbo is a key figure in the gang-up to take Edo backward. He is actively supporting and sponsoring warlords, thugs and ill-intentioned politicians that are scheming to dislodge Governor Obaseki so they can have free access to the State’s treasury.

“We are therefore calling on security agencies to quickly intervene, investigate and rein in Okunbo in his quest to set the State ablaze.”

Olanipekun said that “arising from the foregoing, the captions and publications are most unfortunate, inaccurate, misleading, malicious, unfair, defamatory, libelous and incriminating.”

According to him, “You are aware that our client is one of the most prominent citizens of Edo State and, indeed, a foremost Nigerian. He is an accomplished businessman, whose interests and achievements, transcend Edo State and Nigeria.

“Through hard work, excellence and the rare business acumen, our client has built and nurtured a diverse and vast business conglomerate, spanning different spheres of the Nigerian economy.

“Edo State is one of the primary beneficiaries of our client’s industry. He invests significantly in the welfare of the State and he employs several hundreds of Edo indigenes in his many businesses.

“Our client has been meticulous in building his career with the hallmarks of diligence and integrity. His peace-loving nature has received global acclaim. Hence, he was recognized with a global peace award in 2019 by the Chairman of the Order of Lafayette awards in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We could refer to an endless list of numerous awards and achievements certifying our client as a man of integrity, industry, means and peace. It is instructive that some of these awards were conferred on our client by institutions based in Edo State. He is a respected Nigerian and philanthropist, who is held in high esteem within and beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

He stated further; “As a remote and direct result of the false, inaccurate, misleading and libelous publications, our client has been inundated with several enquiries from different parts of the world by concerned associates, clients, investors, friends and family members, demanding explanation and clarification about the criminal insinuations of the publications.

“This has caused serious embarrassment to our client’s reputation and businesses. It has also caused our client undue apprehension, with implications to his health. Our client is not unmindful that these publications are calculated to instigate public antagonism against his person, family and business interests.”

Olanipekun added: “The publications have caused considerable distress to our client, putting his distinguished and illustrious reputation at risk. In particular, you are aware that as with most businesses, our client’s businesses thrive on goodwill.

“The negative impact of the publications makes it more tarnishing and grievous. Rather than establish the truth of the publications, they ere published without taking any steps that would have revealed their inaccuracy.

“Our client notes with concern that the resources and insignia of the Edo State Government have been lent to this unworthy cause, which appears to serve no other purpose than to witch-hunt, malign and settle personal scores for incomprehensible reasons.

“Our client has been projected as a criminal conspirator, who sponsors thugs and takes pleasure in unleashing mayhem and anarchy. He has also been portrayed as an undemocratic and anti-democratic Nigerian, with a dishonest and criminal source of income.

“Clearly, the publications have lowered the estimation/perception of our client in the view of right-thinking and reasonable members of the society.”

Olanipekun continued: “Premised on the foregoing, we have further instruction of our client to demand a retraction of the publication and an unreserved apology.

“The said retraction and apology, apart from being in writing to our client in person, should be published in the same newspapers and given the same prominence as the defamatory caption/publications.

“We also demand that the Edo State Government and or its representatives cease(s) and desist(s) from making any further libelous and defamatory publications in respect of our client.

“Finally, our client demands the sum of N2,000,000,000 (two billion naira) for the embarrassment, inconvenience, losses and damages done to his person, character and interests.

“In the event that the Edo State Government fails to meet these legitimate demands of our client within a period of 3 (three) days from receipt of this letter, our firm instruction is to proceed with other legal means of seeking redress for our client.”

abeg LINK to streammmmmmmm

WAeY Technologies Announces the Launch of On-demand Delivery Service to Enhance Logistics in Nigeria

WAeY Technologies today announced the launch of its on-demand delivery platform in Nigeria to enable users to access delivery whenever and wherever. The platform will be made available to all through its mobile app - WAeY Hailing, from which users can request on-demand delivery services.

With the high growth potential of the Nigerian e-commerce industry, there is an even higher demand for excellent logistics and delivery services by both consumers and business owners. To support the growing demands of consumers and the e-commerce market, WAeY Technologies created a platform where users and business owners can request for delivery services in the same way that one would request a cab ride on a ride-hailing platform. This decision was informed by WAeY Technologies’ commitment to providing solutions to business needs through technological innovations.

In his statement, Mobolaji Akintokunbo, Founder and Managing Director of WAeY Technologies shared that “the idea for WAeY Hailing is one that was conceived after a terrible experience I had with getting lunch delivered to me after a meeting. That experience and many more before that had me thinking about creating a solution that would enhance the logistics experience in Nigeria. To achieve this, I partnered with a leading logistics company in Nigeria, HOR Logistics which is led by Moradeyo Wola-Oyesoro. The combination of our unique skills and experience with delivering practical and excellent solutions locally we are confident, will deliver an efficient, reliable and quick delivery solution through our on-demand delivery app - WAeY.”

WAeY app provides a platform from which individuals and businesses can gain access to on-demand delivery services. On the app, users can request a delivery service based on the availability of dispatch riders in the pickup location. Users are then able to track order from pick up till delivery. One of the more distinctive features on the app is that users can request up to 6 simultaneous deliveries. The app provides users with options to book the whole delivery box or to share. The sharing option which is at an even more affordable price gives users the option of picking a seat or two.

Mobolaji further stated that:-

“We did not only build the WAeY app as a delivery solution. We wanted it to become a wealth creation platform as well. The Nigerian Logistics sector has over the years enjoyed significant growth and we would like to give individuals the opportunity to benefit from that growth and development.

People who own delivery bikes can register on the WAeY Hailing platform to increase their earnings, while those who do not own delivery bikes but wish to benefit from the budding logistics market in Nigeria are presented with options that will ensure they earn great ROI per annum. We are confident that WAeY will spell a positive change for the Nigerian logistics sector and online businesses. We are kicking off operations in Lagos State and we have plans to expand to other states in Nigeria, in the next few months.”

The WAeY app is available for Android and IOS phones. Dispatch riders and delivery bike owners can register their delivery bikes on the WAeY Hailing platform through the WAeY Partner app. The app is currently available on Google Playstore.

Udom's Completion agenda: Opening Sustainable Business Opportunities In A'Ibom

By N S Brown

Governor Udom Emmanuel has taken steps to actualise his vision for establishment of Liberty Free Zone in Ikot Abasi industrial city - Akwa Ibom State. According to reports, he led a business delegation accompanied by Mr. Umana Okon Umana, managing director of OGFZA, to meet Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, the minister of trade, industries and Investment in Abuja, to discuss his proposal.

The meeting was described as successful since it aligns with federal government policy to support states in their industrial development drive in order to help create job opportunities and attract foreign direct investment to the country.

This is one of several successful business negotiations initiated by the Governor that is steering the State towards economic growth and self sufficiency. After delivering more than a dozen functioning industries and tidying basic sectoral needs including healthcare, food security, education and others, the Governor is taking on a new set of challenges as he drives his completion agenda aimed at pushing the State into the big league of industralised state's within the African sub- region. And, he seems driven to create an entirely new niche for the State in aviation and maritime sector.

Such drive is understood considering that the geographical location of the coastal State at the Gulf of Guinea with unhindered access to the Atlantic Ocean is very significant as a major gateway State with huge business potentials. Unlike Lagos State whose unstable salty lagoon is unfit for large sea going vessels to berth close to the shore, Akwa Ibom State has a deep continental shelf which would gives easy access to large vessels up to the shore. This natural asset is what attracted European traders and colonists to Ikot Abasi, Ibeno and other coastal communities linning the State.

Perhaps Governor Emmanuel also draws inspiration from this historical fact which explains the sense of urgency he attaches to development. For instance, the State owned international airport was merely a transit point when he took over. However, within his first term the Governor renamed it Victor Attah International airport and undertook extensive expansion works on the facility to accommodate increasing traffic and almost completing a permanent terminal for the airport.

Also, within four years of initiating a State owned airline - Ibom Air, Governor Emmanuel has painstakingly built a brand name for the only State carrier in Nigeria's aviation industry as well as earned the State a place in global aviation map. Not done, the Governor is poised to capture a larger chunk of Nigeria’s often unutilized aviation industry. And, with the help of a highly professional board managing the airline company, the State recently added a fourth aircraft, a 90-seater CRJ900 bombardier to its fleet.

Being an astute business man with keen eyes on trends, the Governor made sure the newly acquired aircraft is post Covid-19 compliant. The new aircraft with registration number 5N-BXP, possesses the latest hyper-technology high efficiency air filter (HEAF), a passenger safety device against viruses, including Coronavirus.

Besides investing in the aviation industry, Governor Emmanuel is working assiduously with relevant federal government agencies to develop the State's maritime industry. With the longest coastline in the country, Akwa Ibom State has served as an important entry point since precolonial era. Its coastal communities were among the first to have contact with seafaring European traders, but were abandoned in the labyrinth of national politics.

Consequently, every investment made by the Governor in the sector is geared towards repositioning the State as a world-class maritime business hub. In so doing, he has interpreted the Akwa Ibom Development Master plan clearly.

Emmanuel's quest to ramp up the actualisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport, IDSP, project began as soon as he entered office. Since then, he has achieved tangible milestones which culminated in the presentation of the Full Business Case Compliance Certificate for the project in June, 2020.

During the presentation ceremony, the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Izuwah, said the project would become a major national and regional economic gateway that would provide additional container handling capacity for the country. He added the IDWP was also expected to handle petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, vehicles and bulk trade in natural resources and commended Akwa-Ibom State government for its efforts in getting the project to the present level of achievement.

As stated earlier, in addition to ensuring the realization of Ibom Deep Seaport, Governor Emmanuel initiated the Liberty Free Trade Zone, in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, taking advantage of its unhindered access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Juxtaposing these major development efforts with numerous industrial concerns proposed for the area including a coconut refinery, a jetty, fertilizer manufacturing plants, oil servicing platforms among other industrial concerns, it is readily seen that Governor Udom Emmanuel is opening sustainable business opportunities on several fronts that will impact on every area of Akwa Ibom State economy such that on completion of his tenure, he would have left an unmatched legacy, having set up the State for self sufficiency and economic independence.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

Many keep wondering why Gov Abu Sani Bello is attached to rural communities. What is certainly clear is that rural areas in Niger state, as with most other places in the country, remain the golden belt and critical factor of our economic growth.

Given this awareness, Gov Abu Sani Bello has directed ceaseless attention to growing rural infrastructure. Upon his advent in the governance of the state, the rural areas have benefitted the construction of solid roads and bridges.

Specific to this rural focus is the construction of 89km Kamfani-Bobi-Kasuwan Garba road, one of the rural road the Governor has transformed through RAMP, a road which has remained a clear death-trap long before the coming and intervention of the Governor.

Today, Kamfani-Bobi-Kasuwan Garba,
by the will of Allaah, has been transformed, thanks to dogged focus of Gov Abu Sani Bello. The construction of a brand new road and suitable bridges have eased the lives of the residents, especially regarding conveyances and transportation of their farm produce to locations of sale and profit.

#LoloIsWorking

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The limbless, headless torso of a millionaire tech entrepreneur was found inside his swanky Manhattan condo Tuesday afternoon — an electric saw lying next to the remains, police said.
Police made the grisly discovery in a building on E. Houston St. at Suffolk St. In the Lower East side about 3:30 p.m. Cops found contractor bags near the torso, sources said, but didn’t immediately open them to see if the body parts were inside.

An NYPD official said investigators believe the victim is tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, 33, who bought the condo for $2.25 million last year. Saleh, a website developer turned venture capital, is the CEO of a motorcycle-sharing company in Lagos, Nigeria.

Source: https://www.inoutnaija.com/2020/07/breaking-news-gokada-ceo-found-brutally.html

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

Niger State Government has flagged off the rehabilitation of the Minna City Gate-Chanchaga road.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff and Chairman, Infrastructure Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara, said that the rehabilitation work of 5.65km Road on both side which has caused travelers hardship would be completed in 16 weeks.

According to Hon. Balarabe, the reconstruction of City Gate-Chanchaga road is awarded to H and M Nig Ltd at the total cost of N403million

The Chief of Staff assured that even as the road is a federal road, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello deemed it necessary to intervene so that travelers coming in and going out of the state capital will not experience the difficulty experienced last year.

Further, he said that the state government will continue to intervene by fixing federal roads to keep the roads motor-able.

The representative of H and M, assured the state government that they will deliver the project in a timely manner and to the highest possible standards.

cc: mynd44

Demands Apology and Retraction.

Prophet Omale, the General Overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, Abuja has sued the News Agency Of Nigeria, NAN, over a report he described malicious, derogatory and libelous with the caption – “HOW MAGU USED ‘PASTOR’ TO LAUNDER RE-LOOTED FUNDS ABROAD - REPORT”.

In a letter written by his lawyer, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), said the report "reeks of calumny, denigration, actuated by malice, and calculated to ridicule and disparage him, and clearly a hatchet job ingeniously crafted to cast a stain on his reputation; expose him to public hatred and contempt and injure him in his religious calling, as the General Overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International."

Our client’s attention has been drawn to the extremely malicious, derogatory and libelous publication with the caption – “HOW MAGU USED ‘PASTOR’ TO LAUNDER RE-LOOTED FUNDS ABROAD - REPORT” by your Reporter, one Isamaila Chafe, posted on your website - www.nannews.ng on the 11th day of July 2020.

"We, however, wish to make the following clarifications to put the public records straight:

1. That our client is the General Overseer of an Inter-denominational/Multi-religious Prayer Ministry, which Mr. Ibrahim Magu attends.

2. That our client, only visited Mr. Ibrahim Magu in a Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, sometime in March 2020.

3. That our client never laundered any funds whatsoever for Mr. Ibrahim Magu, nor for anybody whatsoever.

4. That our client does not own any foreign bank account anywhere in the world.

5. That there are no funds whatsoever traceable from Mr. Ibrahim Magu to our client’s Bank accounts whatsoever neither has our client received any funds whatsoever from Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Our client has never received any funds whatsoever from anybody on behalf of Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

6. That our client does not own any property in Dubai. His name was never used to purchase any property whatsoever in Dubai, United Arab Emirate or anywhere else in any part of the world, neither has he purchased any property or properties for Mr. Ibrahim Magu in any part of the world whatsoever.

"We wish to state that by reason of the said libelous publication which was read by millions of persons all over the world, our client has been severely injured in his reputation, character and calling. Our client has thereby been brought into ridicule, public scandal, hatred, denigration, odium and contempt, and lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

"We therefore, demand the immediate retraction of the libelous publication by way of an unequivocal APOLOGY to our client prominently published in at least three (3) National Newspapers not later than 7 (Seven) days from the date of your receipt of this letter and that you restrain from further defamation of our client forthwith otherwise, a libel suit against NAN will commence you, your Organization, claiming the sum of N1, 000,0000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as exemplary, aggravated, general damages for defamation, and for injunction if you fail to comply.

"Further take notice that this letter constitutes our formal notice of intention to sue.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2020/07/magu-prophet-omale-sues-news-agency-of-nigeria-for-n1billion/amp/

David Ibiyeomie, the founder and presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries has warned Nigerians against a culture of celebrating fraudulent and unmerited wealth in society, adding that unearned riches bring shame and sorrow in the end.

The cleric gave the advice during his homily on Sunday, at the end of a week-long online service on spiritual empowerment, hosted at the church's headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ibiyeomie cautioned that any country that gave its highest recognitions and honours to fraudsters and shady characters was setting a dangerous precedent for its youth.

He advised the youth to shun the attraction of "blood money" and the proceeds of crime, citing the travails of Nigerian internet "celebrities" facing multiple charges of fraud in the United States of America.

"Do not go for blood money. Work for clean money and God will bless your effort", Ibiyeomie said, adding that a just reward always awaited those who seek it by honest means.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

The fact of shrinking fortunes, which has confronted governments, as well as private ventures, is no news again, a situation consequent upon a multiplicity of factors, most of which simply defy solutions, even at global levels. The contribution of the raging global pandemic to the problem should not be overlooked, however.

Particularly in Nigeria, states are going out of their ways to cope, by cutting down traditional commitments on routine spendings, even while reducing capital projects. This is the picture in Niger state, very similar with what goes on across other states of the country.

While it is true that Niger state has now decided to make temporary 30% reduction in salaries of workers across board, a move which has affected both career and political officers - including the governor himself(!), the issues which caused the 30% cut should be factored into conditioning an appreciation, rather than condemnation, of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led administration.

Today, the truth is that even states that receive larger share from the federation account monthly and even records higher returns from their Internally Generated Revenue, have been constrained into reducing salaries of their workers, even long before now.

Everyone who has been following events in Niger state will tell that the Governor is never known for delaying salaries, and that, even before minimum wage, he has chosen to implement a 25% increase in monthly earnings of civil servants on grade levels. The staff in our fire services department have not been excluded in the list of cadres that have enjoyed enhanced salary schemes under this government.

Governor Abubakar has equally perfected the tradition of paying salaries by 25th of every month, revealing his love and soft spot for the workers. If there is any delay in paying workers lately, such a delay should be viewed against such a litany of unfavourable factors, a situation which the governor himself has found quite disturbing, but which remains inevitable.

Since his first term, again, Governor Abubakar has implemented unadulterated, full-scale implementation of CONMESS - Consolidated Medical Salary Structure - and CONHESS - Consolidated Health Salary Structure - for health workers, including medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists, and various other categories of health staff in state-owned health establishments. By the move, Niger state remains one of the five states in the country that has so far made the move, ranking the state's medical staff alongside those in the federal service.

While Labour is not wrong to agitate for the welfare of its members, the facts of issues must equally be disclosed and clarified all the time so that the Union would not be pursuing a wrong course and fighting a needless war! Labour should be informed that the 30% reduction in salaries would not be terminally forfeited by workers, but would be repaid soon as the situation improves.

Government had made similar reduction of 20% in the salaries of workers earnings before, and they were all repaid when the situation enabled it. Local governments got into the same problem few months ago, paying 80% of salaries of its workforce and settling the balance later.

The reduction in monthly earnings does not however affect pensioners who have continue to receive 100% of their pensions, underscoring Governor Lolo’s soft spot for retired civil servants.

The austerities that have befallen Nigeria is a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has not spared any country on the globe. Today, no state, even those with large IGRs are not finding it funny, regarding incomes to settle monthly bills, salaries/wages inclusive! But all Niger state is saying is that workers - civil/public servants and political appointees - should manage with what is available now just until the situation improves. The deduction is temporary, and repayments shall be made soon as incomes improve. States that are doing better than Niger state in terms resources have cut salaries too, even long before now.

The truth is that Niger state has been feeling the cash crunch since March, but had thought the situation could be managed without shifting any burden upon the workers. Such is apparently no longer possible. We all have to accept this as reality, even as government shall explore all means to ensure that the situation is resolved in few months to come.

Muhammed Sani Idris
Commisioner of Information
July 10 2020

cc: lalasticalala, mynd44

The New Nigeria Collective (NNC) group has asked the leadership of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to tread with circumspection in the way it is handling its engagement with the Ocean Marine Solution Limited (OMSL), the company supporting the Nigerian Navy to provide security at the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) of the Lagos delineation of the nation’s waters.

The group, in a statement by its National Chairman, Mr. Adeola Adewunmi, was reacting to a statement recently credited to the NPA leadership and published in a national daily, where it threatened the arrest of any vessel at the SAA, adding that any ship found there would be sanction also.

According to the group, the fact that OMSL has no business with the NPA in the matter presupposes that the government agency has been overreaching itself over time even after the Nigerian Senate intervened and asked the NPA to steer clear of the SAA because the contract is between OMSL and the Navy and not directly with the NPA.

It is even the more disturbing that after Senate’s recommendation, which gave OMSL a clean bill and urged it to continue with its otherwise patriotic assignment, the NPA leadership was still headstrong and went ahead to disrespect the Nigerian senate – an institution of note.

Isn’t it also ridiculous that the NPA is now asking the Navy to arrest the vessels they are protecting or do we call this a clear case of incompetence on the part of the NPA leadership?

“Unfortunately, as it stands today, the NPA doesn’t have a security Architecture in place in the Lagos area, not to mention the Port Harcourt area, where pirates’ attacks are uncontrollable and cost of shipping to Port Harcourt has become astronomical, because ships refuse to go there.

But the Lagos that seems to be working, because of SAA is about to be destroyed out of sheer vendetta and lack of patriotism “Instead of encouraging the security solutions that have brought sanity to the Lagos area, all the efforts of the NPA leadership have been to destroy it and bring the Lagos area to the days that ships had to go to neighboring countries to berth and the country lost a lot of revenue and what is even more worrisome is that this service is at no cost to the federal government, so, what is NPA’s problem?” the group asked.

The NNC said it was embarrassed to learn that despite all the interventions that legitimately stifled the NPA from harassing the OMSL, it has continued to act as though it was not answerable to anyone, adding that the silent treatment being meted out to it by the OMSL can only explain why the matter has not needlessly escalated.

“The truth of the matter is that the NPA does not even have the power to arrest or announce the arrest of anyone. In the very worst-case scenario, if there are infractions at SAA, all that the NPA needs to do is report such to the Navy, which will in turn address the matter.

“But, having followed closely the operations of the OMSL at the SAA, it does not take much to see how the company has been providing the much-needed logistics for the navy to function and be on top of their assignment. But this is the kind of support that the NPA has refused to give, even when it was approached.

“We are inclined to believe, therefore, that there are some persons within the NPA, who for reasons best known to them alone, want the OMSL messed up and as a result, been concocting all sorts of lies and manipulation to justify their premeditated plans,” he said.

The group maintained that the NPA must be immediately called to order to stop distracting the OMSL from doing the job, for which it has been globally acknowledged as outstanding in securing the nation’s waterways and instead, partner them for productive collaboration in the larger interest.

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

Porting: 9mobile Sustains Lead for Sixth Consecutive Month

9mobile has maintained its lead in incoming subscribers’ porting for the sixth straight month, according to industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for May 2020.

Incoming (Inward) Porting means the number of numbers ported from another service provider’s network into a service provider’s network.

The figures for May 2020, showed that 9mobile received 6,304 customers from other operators to cement its status as the telco of choice for Nigerian subscribers.

The Operator had started receiving customers from other networks in large numbers in December 2019 when it gained 8,613 subscribers from the other operators.

It subsequently received 5, 516 customers from other operators in January 2020; 5,371 in February; 8,225 in March and 3,829 in April.

The continuous migration of subscribers to 9mobile further affirms that the repositioning efforts it commenced last year is bearing fruits and that its voice and data services remain excellent.

9mobile customers enjoy clear, crisp calls and access to affordable, fast Internet service for browsing and streaming experience that help them to optimise efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Progress report on the reconstruction of the Maje-Kwamba Road in Suleja LG, Niger State by Gov Abu Sani Bello

Road Master. #LoloIsWorking

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It may be recalled that a few weeks ago the Infrastructure Committee was in Mokwa to inspect the ongoing Mokwa township roads where the Committee discovered that the contractor handling the project was absent from site.

On the directive of the Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara, the contractor was immediately directed to go back to site.

Further to the above, I am delighted to inform that work has resumed on the projects and in time the good people of Mokwa will enjoy another dividend of the Restoration Agenda of Governor Abu Sani Bell, the Road Master.

See Below:-

cc: lalasticlala, mynd44

...EX-MILITANTS ACCUSE AGF OF PROFITEERING

The whistleblower policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration may have according to sources be put on reverse gear due to associated sleaze and profligacy as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and Mrs Ladidi Muhammed, who is in charge of debt recovery in the ministry are said to be enmeshed in a multi million dollars scandal that is currently rocking the entire anti corruption architecture of the federal government. 

According to a Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Renaissance Force, NDRF, led by Abbey Ebri, Malami has been using the whistleblower policy of the current administration to enrich himself and deny whistleblowers the right to their entitlements using the weapon of intimidation and harassment against whistleblowers to get off their tracks when the ministry has succeeded in retrieving  monies as revealed by the informants. 

This was revealed by Ebri in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital noting that the group was putting everything in place for a full blown confrontation with Malami who he pointedly called a thief owing to so many known facts of dubious dealings allegedly perpetrated by the politician whose office he said has never prosecuted and won any case for the federal government other than withdrawing high calibre cases from courts after monies must have changed hands. 

The group alleged that the AGF is a man who can take anything in bribe money in manner that "poopooh" the anti corruption efforts of the FG.

A case in point according to Ebri, was the case reported by a whistleblower to Malami involving  One Billion and Thirty Four Million , Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($1,034,515,000.00) starched away in one of the Commercial bank that will soon be Made Public

The former warlord stated that at the beginning,  the AGF confirmed the money in the account and instructed Mrs Ladidi Mohammed, to follow up the matter with a promise to pay the entitled percentage to the whistleblowers. 

The case according to the Coalition was reported to Malami right inside his Gwarimpa home and reportedly instructed Mrs Ladidi to get to the root of the matter. 

Legal representations were made to the Ministry and all the necessary documentations were perfected. Shockingly and unexpectedly, Ebri said, the AGF office through the debt recovery department turned around to import bottlenecks into the whole dealings giving reasons the whistleblower would not be paid. 

At this point, said Ebri, the whistleblower who was already carrying the weight of legal services was helpless and efforts to make Malami see reasons to pay the money in the past two years met brickwalls adding that the ministry was bent on short changing the man who risked his life to scoop information and brought same to them. 

The flimsy excuses by the ministry through the debt recovery office was that an ongoing litigation on the matter have to be disposed off before the whistleblower is paid, a position which the ex-militants said was discovered to be mere lies to cheat the whistleblower.

Expectedly, acting on Malami's instruction, the Coalition stated, Ladidi hounded the whistleblower's lawyers with the police and forced the original documents generated in the course of the correspondences between parties with the aim of denying the whistleblowers their dues.

Ebri averred that this case in particular was one in a series of cases that Malami and his cohorts have destroyed and monies stolen by them while whistleblowers are silenced. 

The group called on the AGF to resign his appointment lest he plunged the Buhari led administration into chaos noting that Malami was a clog in the wheel of the anti corruption crusade. It added that, professionally speaking, the AGF is inept to man the office as it pointedly accused the Chief legal officer  of wanton corruption and criminally enriching himself. 

"Malami leads a ministry that is neck-deep in corruption and this in unbecoming of a man who should be the moral compass of the current administration. We are calling on the President to prod into the activities of his Minister before he plunges the nation into unending crisis. 

"The whistleblowing policy of the FG is a cash cow for Malami and his cohorts. We have it on good authority that he has his hands in virtually all corrupt cases in the country and often times he ambushed anti graft agencies with the aim of impeding the team of investigations into dubious activities where he collects millions in bribe money."

The ex-militant group stated, warning that, should Malami refuse to pay up the whistleblower, he would have the Coalition to fight

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..as Govt begins implementing 'Power for All' electrification projects

Rape suspects in Akwa Ibom State may face up to life imprisonment following the signing of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law , VAPPL, 2020 by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

This law will enable judges to hand down life imprisonment to anyone convicted of rape henceforth in the state.

Speaking after the bill was assented to by the Governor, the Dean of Commissioners and Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, describes VAPPL as a sledge hammer for rapists and perpetrators of gender-based violence , maintaining that the Law has clearly spelt out punishment for such offences.

“I think this is one of the best things that has happened to protect the female gender and as the Commissioner overseeing women matters , I believe the women of Akwa Ibom, the children and even our men are happy because this law will really teach defaulters a lesson.

"This law allows for the implementation of a lot of things we were praying for and prescribes stiffer punishment for violators of the Child’s Right Act , perpetrators of violence against citizens of both gender. Before now violators of the female gender had some years to spend in prison but VAPPL recommends life imprisonment to really deal with the offenders and discourage the spate of violence in our society”, she stated.

Dr. Edet noted that sensitization and awareness campaign on the new law will soon kick start.

Also speaking, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko said Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPPL) 2020, provides penalty of a life sentence for rapists.

He revealed the law also provides 14 years imprisonment for perpetrators of gender-based violence and any kind of sexual offence other than rape.

Meanwhile, state government is commencing electrification of 265 communities yet to be linked to the national grid.

The Commissioner for Information Mr. Charles Udoh disclosed government’s intention to link all communities in the state to the national grid.

According to him, to achieve this, the state Executive Council has mandated the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperative to commence electrification of 265 villages that are without electricity to facilitate the actualization of Power For-All Initiative by the state government at the end of 2021.

“You are aware that there are 2274 gazetted villages in Akwa Ibom State, from that number it was reported that 265 villages spread across 27 Local Government Areas in the State are without electricity, so in pursuance of the dream to achieve power for all initiative by 2021, Exco has approved the commencement of the electrification projects in those villages.

"However, the electrification of the 265 villages will be done in phases base on budgetary provisions and through direct labour,” he said.

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It was the British liberalist, Jeremy Bentham that once thoughtfully opined that, "leadership is all about the greatest good of the greatest number. ”

This thought provoking humanist quote shall continue to generate interest when analyzing the role and impact of government or policymakers in the affairs of societies. This is especially so in a democracy where multitudes of the people elect leaders to govern and deliver on their manifestoes.

Faced with tough choices of satisfying the pressing and nagging needs of both rural and urban dwellers, political leaders, in the noble thoughts of Bentham, are expected to make policies and programmes geared toward fostering as much wellbeing for as many people as possible.

As a son of a peasant farmer, growing up and traveling from Shafini to the urban areas either for education aspirations or commerce wasn't a tea party for us. The road we ply wasn't anything to right home about. Our plight was next to zero rural access road, this was as a result of total neglect by the government despite our people being active voters since the return of democracy in 1999.

The excruciating hardship that has been experienced by our people while traveling in and out of Shafini is better imagine. There are instances during raining seasons where we are cut off completely from traveling out as a result of heavy downpour.

Our people often resort to improvisation by constructing wooden locally made bridge to temporary ease movement. This is the difficult situation as a people we have been passing through for years. In some extreme difficult situations we are often compelled to disembark from our vehicles to push our cars and lorries out of mud or to reduce the heavy load of the vehicles to enable them make it across.

However, it seem our years of suffering is gradually coming to the end as our community is presently benefiting from the construction of 48km Felegi-Shafini-Tungan Jika rural access road with a brand new bridge. With this development, I sincerely believe that the 6 hours it normally took us to make a journey of an hour or less will be history.

As a direct beneficiary, while commending the effort of Gov. Abu Lolo for remembering our neglected areas to be worthy of a rural access road, it is our hope that quality will not be compromised. We shall continue to demand for more from our leaders and pray for them to deliver on their mandates.

Now when I hear people chanting Lolo is working, I will join in reechoing it.

©️ Abubakar Musa Shafini and wrote from Shafini.

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